Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-07

jury and who the day after the verdict, said
there was but one thing the jury could do
under the evidence and that was what
they did-convict, has in the past week
addressed long letter to Gen. Lee urging
him to commute the sentence. He says
Ciuverius' trial and conviction from first
to last twas horrible and CHASTITY farce,
revolving in its nature, damning in its eff
fects. and in every way tending to bring
dishonor and shame on the Jurisprudence
of the Common wealth."
Mr.. John W. Tinsley, of the Middle
brook Academy of Augusta county, writes
a long letter to the Richmond 'sDIspatch''
in behalf of the innocence of Cluverius.
The following are its concluding SEN
fences:
I desire my readers to thoroughly I'M
derStand that l have not attempted to
argue the case but have presented few
facts and commented as to the manner in
which they impressed me; also, that 1 am
no sentimen talist, nor yet any destroyer
of the law, but am convinced that the &C
cused is not guilty of the crime charged,
and that every effort should be made by
feeling humanity to prevent the execution
OF sentence founded upon such cream
stances as this one. l appeal now, and
would With my latest breath, to those " no
have one iota of influence to have this case
shown in its proper light, and accordingly
have granted to the doomed man ''Iife,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. y
JOHN w. TINsLEY.
GOV. TEE I'M AHI0TNTNG
CLUvERIUS.
The friends Of ex Capitol Clerk W. R.
Smith, the convicted embezzler, having
pet1tioned Gov. Lee for pardon on the
ground of iil-health that would result in
death if Smith was confined in the peni-
testis sS s5e 0vsnor one aag , ,s week
after his practical and common sense
mode of testing petitions, went to the jail
to look at the prisoner himself. Smith Is
cell is next to that Of Cluverius. and after
the Governor left, the condemned man
expressed regrets at not inviting the Gov
ernor to see him.
NEVER CALLS HER NAME.
Persons who have frequently talked
with Thomas j. Ciuverius, tie condemn
ed murderer, have been struck with the
fact that the prisoner has never once call
ed Lillian Matisan's name. When speak
ing Of the dead girl he always refers to
her as ''she, y ''the girl" and ''her." Why
he does this is best known to himself.
THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRISONERS
FORMER FIANCEE.
No lady has visited Cluverius since his
arrest save his aged and devoted aunt,
Mrs. Jane Tunstall. The young lady to
whom he was engaged to be married just
before his arrest for the murder Of Lillian
Madison. was more than a year ago we'd
ded to g young man who was a witness on
the trial. He acted as postmaster OF the
little country pGstofice from which Clu-
verius mailed letters to Miss Madison du-
ring her stay in Bath county. It was
touching that point that this witness was
called upon to testify at the trial.
MUSIC IN HIS CELL.
Some two weeks ago Cluverius sent for
Capt. Frank Cunningham. Richmond's
favorite tenor singer, and requested him
to sing for him. 1t was late in the after
noon when the singer got there and the
jail was very quiet. Cluverius was alone
in his room when the arrival of the Cap
tain was announced by Mr.. Dunn, the
death watch, who is constantly at the
door of the cell in which the condemned
man is confined. Capt. Cunningham en-
tered and was cordially greeted by the
prisoner. After passing few words III
general conversation the prisoner asked
hn rar,f cjr TO cir mr. "a no do 10
request, II am very fond of good music"
The Captain sang several of his favOrite
songs, and then returned to the Office,
where he remained with Sergeant Smith
until after supper. Cluverius learning
that the Captain was still at the Jail, sent
a message to him asking him to sing again
before leaving Capt. Cunningham COM
piled IN that accommodating manner so
characteristic of him. choosing as one of
his selections ''The Home of the SOUL" a
touching and affecting song. which he
sung On funeral occasions. The prisoner
listened seemingly IN rapturous delight.
THE ADMINISTERING OF THE CON-
MUNIoN TO CONDEMNED MEN.
Rev. DIR. W. E. Hatcher is the regular
visitor as spiritual advisor of the con-
demned man. One other minister, Rev.
Mr.. Pitt, has called on him as an &C
quaintance. ssIt has not been the custom
of Baptist ministers to administer the rite
of communion to condemned men," said
a well-known clergyman of that denomi-
nation to Richmond Estate" reporter
last week. ''and,' he added, ''baptlsm is
seldom performed but once to any one
person." Just before his execution Jeter
Phillips asked his spiritual advisers to
baptize him, but it was never done. Phil
lips never belonged to any church. Gu
yerius was member of the Little Ply
mouth Baptist church, but he was ex-
PEELED after his conviction.
A HOPE OF INTERFERENCE BY THE U. S
COURT.
A visit Of Hon. John S. Wise to Cluve.
RUS. in his cell, on Monday, OF which
visit Mr.. Wise declines to say whether it
was professional or not. has given rise to
the surmise in Richmond that an effort
will be made to get the case before q. S.
Court on habeas corpus, on the ground
that the prisoner has not had the fair and
impartial trial guaranteed to every citizen
of the United States by the constitution
the unfalrness being that three Of the
jurors were Ignorant OF the fact that they
could bring III lower verdict than MUIR
der in the first degree. Four days before
Jeter Phillips was hung, his counsel appii-
ed to U. S. Judge Underwood for writ
of habeas corpus for him, On the ground
hot 90 4L,N lid - no